Big-name Celebrities Share Proud Parent Moment as Kids Graduate in 2023

Celebrities such as former President Barack Obama and Pierce Brosnan proudly attended their children's graduation ceremonies in 2023. Obama, along with his wife Michelle and daughter Malia, witnessed their daughter Sasha graduate from the University of Southern California on May 12. Sasha successfully earned her bachelor's degree in sociology after transferring from the University of Michigan the previous year.

Sasha was adorned with white and purple leis, in addition to her cap, gown, stole and cords. It was speculated that the leis were a tribute to Hawaii - the state where her father was born in 1961. Barack looked sharp in a gray suit and complimented Michelle's black dress perfectly. Malia, on the other hand, completed her nude and lilac dress with a pair of delicate green heels. Prior to this event, Brosnan took to Instagram to celebrate his youngest child Paris' college graduation.

The GoldenEye actor, Pierce Brosnan, congratulated his son's mother, Paris Smith, on her graduation from Loyola Marymount University School of Film & Television. In a photo shared on May 6, Brosnan and Smith posed together as he wished her well in her future endeavors. Brosnan encouraged her to approach life with bravery as she sets out to create stories that will inspire and improve the world. Brosnan is the proud father of two sons, Dylan and Sean, and the stepfather of Christopher and the late Charlotte Harris.

Brosnan's former co-star in Mamma Mia!, Amanda Seyfried, was among the many fans who congratulated him in the comments section of the post. "Time flies so fast. This is amazing!" wrote the Golden Globe winner, who is 37 years old and has two children with her husband, Thomas Sadoski. Meanwhile, Teresa Giudice celebrated her daughter Gia's graduation from Rutgers University, calling it a significant milestone in life. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star shared a photo of herself and her 22-year-old daughter on Instagram on May 14th.

The reality star from Bravo expressed her immense pride in her daughter's accomplishment, deeming it "one of the most special moments" of her life. Gia, who obtained her bachelor's degree in criminal justice, aspires to follow in her father's footsteps and become a lawyer, particularly after his deportation to Italy in 2019. Teresa went on to applaud her daughter for setting a positive example for her younger siblings and serving as a source of inspiration for both them and herself. She expressed her excitement for Gia's future, acknowledging her unwavering determination and leadership qualities. Ultimately, Teresa had no doubt that Gia would continue to pursue her dreams and achieve great success. She concluded with a heartfelt declaration of love and support for her daughter.

Scroll below to see which other stars celebrated their kids (and grandkids’) 2023 graduations:

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Stars Whose Kids Graduated in 2023: Barack Obama, Pierce Brosnan and More

Celebrities, including former President Barack Obama and actor Pierce Brosnan, were among the proud parents in attendance at their children's 2023 graduation ceremonies. Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle Obama and their daughter Malia, watched as their daughter Sasha received her bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Southern California on May 12. Sasha had transferred from the University of Michigan to USC in 2022.

Sasha donned a cap, gown, stole, and cords, along with white and purple leis, which could have been a tribute to her father's birthplace, Hawaii, in 1961. Barack looked sharp in a gray suit that complemented Michelle's black dress and the rest of the family looked equally fashionable. Meanwhile, Malia paired her nude and lilac dress with thin green heels. Brosnan celebrated the graduation of his and wife Keely Shaye Smith's youngest child, Paris, earlier that month on Instagram.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, GoldenEye actor Pierce Brosnan congratulated his son Paris on his graduation from Loyola Marymount University School of Film & Television. Along with a photo of himself and Paris with his wife Keely Shaye Smith, Brosnan encouraged his son to fearlessly create stories that will have a positive impact on the world. Brosnan is also the father of Dylan and Sean, and stepfather to Christopher and the late Charlotte, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2013.

Among the well-wishers who left messages in the comments section of the post, was Amanda Seyfried, Brosnan's former co-star in Mamma Mia!. "Time is crazy. This is so wonderful!" exclaimed the Golden Globe winner, who has two children with her husband, Thomas Sadoski. Meanwhile, Teresa Giudice marked her daughter Gia's graduation from Rutgers University with pride. "I am so proud of my devoted and intelligent daughter, Gia, for graduating from a stellar university, a huge milestone to accomplish in life," wrote the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, captioning an Instagram picture of herself and Gia at the May 14 ceremony.

The reality star from Bravo expressed her immense pride and joy as she spoke about her daughter's recent achievement. Gia, who obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, aspires to become a lawyer after her father, Joe Giudice, was deported to Italy in 2019. Teresa went on to praise her daughter for paving the way of success for her sisters and being an inspiration to both them and her. She further added that Gia's leadership qualities and determination are truly admirable and that she has no doubt that her daughter will achieve great things. Teresa ended with a heartfelt message, expressing her love for Gia and wishing her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Scroll below to see which other stars celebrated their kids (and grandkids’) 2023 graduations:

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Shannon Beador

Celebrating my daughters’ graduation fills me with immense pride. They have blossomed into stunning young women and I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing their exciting future endeavors. A big congratulations to Stella and Adeline! You both hold a special place in my heart.

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Kylie Jenner

The daughter of reality TV personality, Kylie Jenner, and rapper, Travis Scott, recently graduated from pre-school. On June 7th, the proud mom shared a heartwarming snapshot of herself and her little one at the graduation ceremony, accompanied by a caption which read, "My sweet girl graduated pre-k today."

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Laura Dern

"My baby's high school graduation was truly a remarkable milestone," shared the Big Little Lies star on Instagram on June 5. She posted cherished family photos from the ceremony and expressed her gratitude to the New Roads School for its exceptional commitment to social justice and growing empathy. The school's diverse and representative community, as well as the teachers and administration, had a profound impact on her daughter, Jaya. With pride and awe, the actress lauded Jaya's incredible heart and voice that shone through her years of hard work.

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Jennifer Hudson

"My heart is bursting with pride as my son, David, enters high school! We celebrated this milestone surrounded by loved ones and it was truly a day to remember. Congratulations, DOJ, on this exciting new chapter in your life!"

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Alyssa Milano

"We commemorated my son's graduation from elementary school today and it's been an emotional ride," shared the Charmed actress on her Instagram post last May 30 as she raised a toast to her son Milo's future endeavors. "Being a parent is an inexplicable experience. You pour your heart and soul into them, nourish and guide them, motivate and support them, and treasure every moment. All the love and passion you feel inside eventually culminates in letting them spread their wings and soar high."

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Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart

Ford and Flockhart attended their son Liam's graduation from Amherst College on May 28, making a rare public appearance. Ford looked dapper in a navy suit and light blue shirt, while Flockhart appeared elegant in a white dress and black flats, carrying a white purse.

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Janelle Brown and Kody Brown

"My daughter Savanah has officially graduated and I couldn't be more proud," shared the Sister Wives star on social media. "It's amazing to see all of my children growing up and achieving their goals. This graduation was different from the others we've experienced, but we still celebrated in a big way. This weekend, we're heading to UT to throw a party for Savanah with her siblings. I can't wait to see what the future holds for her."

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Kimora Lee Simmons

"My daughter has achieved an incredible milestone by graduating from Harvard with a double major, and at just 20 years old, she is one of the youngest graduates in recent history," exclaimed the fashion designer on her Instagram post on May 27, where she shared pictures from her daughter's graduation ceremony. "It's unbelievable! I am bursting with pride! Despite working full-time as a model, you persevered and made it happen. We did it together, my intelligent and gorgeous girl! These tears are a testament to the hard work we have put in. Mama loves you more than anything! ️️."

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Joanna and Chip Gaines

As he walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma last weekend, we couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and nostalgia. It seems like just yesterday we were cheering him on as he took his first steps, but now he's taking his first steps into a world beyond what he's known. The Magnolia Table author shared photos from her firstborn's ceremony on May 27, and we're so proud of you, Drake!

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Lebron James

“PROUD!!!! . CONGRATULATIONS & LOVE YOU KID,” the NBA star gushed via Instagram on May 26, sharing photos from son Bronny’s ceremony.

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Lisa Barlow

The star of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City recently shared a touching tribute on Instagram in honor of her son Jack's high school graduation. Alongside a slideshow of pictures from the ceremony, the Bravo personality praised her son's character, calling him the "absolute best older brother" and "most thoughtful son." She expressed her admiration for his self-assurance and predicted that his future endeavors would positively impact the lives of others. The post concluded with a heartfelt declaration of love and support from the proud mother.

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Carly Waddell and Evan Bass

On May 24, The Bachelor star celebrated her daughter Bella's preschool graduation with her ex-husband Bass. Waddell expressed her surprise at having a kindergartener now and wondered where the time had gone. She shared her excitement on Instagram, "Bella graduated from Pre-k today! I can't believe I have a kindergartener now!"

Accompanied by her and Bass' son, Charlie, the singer of "Your Friends Like Me More" attended the ceremony, which became an unforgettable night for her daughter as Charlie cheered for her after the performance. The couple, who are Bachelor Nation stars, announced their separation in December 2020, after being married for three years.

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Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell

"I am bursting with pride," wrote the former star of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on her Facebook page on May 23, after attending the graduation ceremony of her eldest daughter, Kaitlyn. "It's hard to believe that I'll soon have a kid in middle school and another in second grade. Excuse me while I grab a tissue and cry my eyes out."

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Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli

“My heart is bursting with pride for @lucabellabella as she crosses this major milestone in her life,” shared Beverly Hills, 90210 star Garth on Instagram on May 23. She posted photos of her daughter's New School college graduation, celebrating the hard work that led up to this momentous occasion. Garth expressed her excitement for Luca's future prospects and ended her post with a heartfelt message for her daughter. The Twilight actor and Garth, who share three daughters and divorced in 2012, also posed for a family photo with the new graduate.

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Jamie Lynn Spears and Jamie Watson

The Sweet Magnolias star and her husband attended daughter Ivey’s preschool graduation on May 23.

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Mickie Wood

The Toddlers and Tiaras alum's daughter Eden Wood celebrated graduating high school as valedictorian on May 20. 

"Alumni Status," Eden wrote via Instagram alongside a series of images from the ceremony. "#Valedictorian #classof2023 #graduated #edenwood #highschoolgrad #ontocollege."

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Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez recently celebrated his daughter Natasha's high school graduation on May 20th. In an Instagram post, he expressed his pride and admiration for his daughter, stating that he is most proud of who she is as a person - honest, kind, compassionate, intuitive, and wise beyond her years. He also expressed his wish for her to go out into the world with confidence, knowing her worth and believing in herself. He concluded his message by expressing his love and admiration for his daughter, stating that she has been his role model for the past 18 years.

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Mama June Shannon

On May 20, the TLC star took to Instagram to share a heartwarming video from her daughter Alana's graduation ceremony. Mama June expressed how proud she was of her daughter and cheered her on throughout the event. "We were all hollering the whole time," she wrote, "and y'all know I screamed 'work it smoochie' one last time." It's clear that Mama June was overjoyed to see her daughter reach this milestone and couldn't contain her excitement.

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Helena Christensen and Norman Reedus

The exes attended son Mingus’ graduation from New York University in May.

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Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos

The Live With Kelly and Mark cohosts celebrated their daughter Lola's graduation from NYU on May 17.

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Barack and Michelle Obama

Barack, Michelle and Malia Obama attended Sasha's graduation from the University of Southern California on May 12, during which she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology.

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Pierce Brosnan

Following in his father's footsteps, Paris, the youngest child of Will Smith, has graduated from Loyola Marymount University's School of Film & Television. With his father being a star in the entertainment industry, it seems that Paris has inherited the same talent and passion for the craft.

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Teresa Giudice

In a heartfelt Instagram post on May 15, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip star excitedly shared the news of her daughter Gia's graduation from Rutgers University. She expressed how proud she was of her daughter's academic achievement and described the moment as one of the most special in her life.

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Joe Biden

On May 15, the University of Pennsylvania celebrated the graduation of Roberta "Maisy" Biden, the granddaughter of the President and First Lady Jill Biden. Joining them were Maisy's father, Hunter Biden, his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, and their daughters Naomi and Finnegan.

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King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan

Princess Salma of Jordan graduated from the University of Southern California on May 12, at which she was supported by her royal parents, King Abdullah and Queen Rania.

My heart swells with pride as I commemorate my daughter Salma's graduation from the renowned University of Southern California. The pictures from her big day, posted on Instagram, are a testament to her hard work and dedication. I am eager to witness the great things she will accomplish in the future. Congratulations, my dear Salma!

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Sonja Morgan

In a recent Instagram post on May 16, the former cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City expressed that her daughter Quincy's college graduation was the proudest day of her life. The 22-year-old achieved Summa Cum Laude at The University of Penn, and was captured in a stunning image posted by the Bravo star. In addition to her academic success, the proud mother emphasized Quincy's well-rounded, kind, and humble personality, complemented by her innate talent and great aspirations.

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Marc Anthony

On May 18, the “You Sang to Me” artist shared a video of his 22-year-old son Cristian graduating from college.

Anthony expressed his love for his children as he celebrated the graduation of his son Cristian, whom he shares with his ex-wife Dayanara Torres. The Instagram post included pictures of Anthony, Torres, and their other son Ryan, posing for photos with the newly graduated Cristian.